Presentation Graphic References
Coester, D. (n.d.). U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.yesmagazine.org/health-happiness/2020/03/24/coronavirus-appalachia-health-access
Percentage of Community Health Center patients with different kinds of insurance coverage, or non coverage, in 2019. (n.d.). North Carolina Community Health Center Association. https://www.ncchca.org/community-resources/policy-advocacy/nc-insurance-gap/
Presentation Script:
Poverty ravages North Carolina, thus creating barriers to basic human necessities such as access to healthcare. According to McKoy, 37% of North Carolinians live below 200% of the federal poverty line (McKoy, 2022, para. 4). If North Carolina, wants to thrive then change must be established within the healthcare system. Equality of healthcare should be a staple in the United States, primarily within their individual states such as North Carolina, as proper access to healthcare saves human lives.
Low cost or free access to healthcare should be a staple in any community and through the expansion of the Ascension Health system, there will be greater access to healthcare in communities across North Carolina. Felland et al. explains that “Ascension Health is the nation’s largest nonprofit health system” and is built upon a five-step model “to improve health care coverage and access for low-income people” (Felland et al., 2011, para. 2). This is accomplished by establishing networks of volunteering physicians at hospitals. Their hospitals and partnered physicians serve as an initiative “to address the fragmented health care safety net” by achieving sustainable funding and continued support to maintain healthcare accessible to all, no matter socioeconomic status (Felland et al., 2011, para. 3). Through the Ascension Health system expanding into North Carolina, it will increase the quality of life for low-income North Carolinians while also improving their access to affordable healthcare.
In addition to Ascension Health, there is a similar health system known as Project Access which relies on volunteer physicians to increase the healthcare access impoverished individuals have in Buncombe County, NC. What separates Project Access from Ascension Health is that unlike Ascension Health, Project Access is already established within North Carolina and can be easily expanded among tight-knit communities when compared to Ascension Health which expands by individual states. Expanding Project Access would be beneficial for North Carolina as the proximity of the program could solve many problems within the state such as with the 43% of North Carolinians living without insurance (Percentage of Community Health Center patients with different kinds of insurance coverage, or non coverage, in 2019, n.d.). Alexander and Landis state that organizations such as Project Access “assure free services to [their] enrollees, and equitably distribute care for uninsured [individuals] across all physicians” which is essential moving forward against the battle of affordable healthcare no matter the level of socioeconomic status (Alexander & Landis, 2012, para. 1).
Although proper access to healthcare saves human lives and thus is necessary within the maintenance and success of a nation, there is still a gap within the equality of healthcare in North Carolina. However, through the expansion of local healthcare systems like Project Access in Buncombe County, NC, and national systems such as Ascension Health, positive change can be established on the state level.
Explication of Research:
How does the difference in socioeconomic classes affect those in low-income communities and poverty in North Carolina, with access to proper healthcare, and medicine? Countries of the world such as Germany and France do not have a paid healthcare system made by companies trying to profit off their own fellow citizens; but rather have a system of free universal access to healthcare no matter socioeconomic status. This however is not a reality for citizens of the United States, which struggle with access to healthcare due to socioeconomic barriers inhibiting them from undergoing important and lifesaving treatment. The ever-worsening socioeconomic gap creates a disparity between low-income communities and access to healthcare, which must be solved. As a result, a variety of programs and special healthcare models used in other areas across the United States enable the possibility for improvement in North Carolina. Resources such as the Ascension Health system and Project Access, two programs seeking to improve access to healthcare across the nation, are two possible solutions for improving the healthcare gap for low-income North Carolinians. Equality of healthcare no matter socioeconomic status should be a staple in North Carolina, as proper access to healthcare saves human lives and improves quality of life.
Poverty ravages North Carolina, thus creating barriers to basic human necessities such as access to healthcare. “The percentage of North Carolinians living below 200% of the federal poverty level was 37%” displaying that there is a serious issue in the socioeconomic status within the state as over 1/3 of the population of North Carolina live below the poverty line (McKoy, 2022, para. 4). North Carolina and other states have a high poverty rate; however, necessary action within the healthcare system is necessary to ensure future generations of North Carolinians are cared for. Problems without access to healthcare include not receiving necessary treatment for diseases or disorders thus worsening quality of life, not regularly getting appointments to check health of bodily systems, and much more. If North Carolina, wants to thrive then change must be established within the healthcare system.
Low cost or free access to healthcare should be a staple in any community and through the expansion of the Ascension Health system into North Carolina, there will be greater access to healthcare in communities across the state. “Ascension Health is the nation’s largest nonprofit health system” and is built upon a five-step model “to improve health care coverage and access for low-income people” (Felland et al., 2011, para. 2). The five-step framework will aid low-income communities across North Carolina, as with the model in place Ascension Health hospitals will be established across the state where impoverished North Carolinians who are underinsured or uninsured can be seen by volunteer medical specialists who are committed to aiding those in difficult living situations. Ascension Health is currently in 11 states and its expansion into North Carolina would aid low-income communities across the state (ScrapeHero, 2022). By establishing networks of volunteering physicians at hospitals Ascension Health’s outlined framework aids in committing to helping those in low-income communities and maintaining a sustainable method of treatment for those in need. Their hospitals and partnered physicians serve as an initiative “to address the fragmented health care safety net” by achieving sustainable funding and continued support to maintain healthcare accessible to all, no matter socioeconomic status (Felland et al., 2011, para. 3). Through the Ascension Health system expanding into North Carolina, it will increase the quality of life for low-income North Carolinians while also improving their access to affordable healthcare.
In addition to Ascension Health, there is a similar health system known as Project Access which relies on volunteer physicians to increase the healthcare access impoverished individuals have in Buncombe County, NC. What separates Project Access from Ascension Health is that unlike Ascension Health, Project Access is already established within North Carolina and can be easily expanded among tight-knit communities when compared to Ascension Health which expands by individual states. Expanding Project Access would be beneficial for North Carolina as the proximity of the program could solve many problems within the state such as with the 43% of North Carolinians living without insurance (Percentage of Community Health Center patients with different kinds of insurance coverage, or non coverage, in 2019, n.d.). An example of Project Access aid is if a family does not have the means to insure everyone in their family, then they will prioritize the children, thus putting the adults at risk of needing necessary treatment without the monetary means to afford it. Organizations such as Project Access “assure free services to [their] enrollees, and equitably distribute care for uninsured across all physicians” which is essential moving forward against the battle of affordable healthcare (Alexander & Landis, 2012, para. 1). Project Access serves as an already established force in the struggle for affordable healthcare across communities in North Carolina and if expanded it can lead to many positive outcomes in the state such as higher quality of life, greater access to healthcare, and higher rates of survivability.
Although proper access to healthcare saves human lives and thus is necessary within the maintenance and success of a nation, there is still a gap within the equality of healthcare in North Carolina. However, through the expansion of local healthcare systems like Project Access in Buncombe County, NC, and national systems such as Ascension Health, positive change can be established on the state level. In an increase in healthcare access has many benefits such as improved life expectancy, quality of life, and access to life saving treatments. With the aid of Project Access and the Ascension Health system the lives of many impoverished North Carolinians can be improved. These people and their communities would have access to healthcare alongside treatment plans that would ensure their presence in the lives of their children and the future generations. In addition, the frameworks both these systems offer to expand healthcare accessibility in North Carolina could be utilized by all the states and enact positive change not only within their communities but also on a legislative level. This possibility of expansion on the legislative level would mean national expansion and change among every low-income community across the country no matter their socioeconomic status.
References
Alexander, L., & Landis, S. (2012). Low-income uninsured patient health and access to health care through a community health program in NC. Journal of Community Health, 37(1), 105–112. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-011-9423-1
Felland, L. E., Ginsburg, P. B., & Kishbauch, G. M. (2011). Improving health care access for low-income people: lessons from ascension health’s community collaboratives. Health Affairs (Project Hope), 30(7), 1290–1298. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2010.1115
McKoy, H. C., Jr. (2022). North Carolina, first in equity: Being healthy rather than seeming so. North Carolina Medical Journal, 83(1), 5–10. https://doi.org/10.18043/ncm.83.1.5
ScrapeHero. (2022, March 14). Number of Ascension Health Hospital And Medical Center locations in the United States in 2022. ScrapeHero. https://www.scrapehero.com/location-reports/Ascension%20Health%20Hospital%20And%20Medical%20Center-USA/
Featured Image Source:
The top 10 most expensive chronic diseases for healthcare payers eat up significant healthcare dollars. (n.d.). Getty Images. https://healthpayerintelligence.com/news/top-10-most-expensive-chronic-diseases-for-healthcare-payers